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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Synopsis for August 24, 2001
The MMWR is embargoed until 4 p.m. ET, Thursdays.
- Outbreaks of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium Associated With Veterinary Facilities Idaho, Minnesota, and
Washington, 1999
- Tularemia Oklahoma, 2000
- Outbreak of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Among Unvaccinated Residents in a Nursing Home New Jersey, April 2001
- Adverse Events and Deaths Associated With Laboratory Errors at a Hospital Pennsylvania, 2001
Synopsis for August 24, 2001
Outbreaks of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium Associated With Veterinary Facilities Idaho, Minnesota, and
Washington, 1999
Cats and other animals can shed Salmonella in their feces. Pet owners and veterinary employees should wash their hands
after animal contact and before eating.
PRESS CONTACT:
Jennifer Gordon Wright, D.V.M.
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 3715407 |
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Although most cases of Salmonella infections that occur each year in the United States are transmitted through food, the disease can also be
transmitted through exposure to contaminated water, reptiles, farm animals, and pets. In late 1999, three outbreaks of human multidrug-resistant
Salmonella infections occurred associated with veterinary facilities in the United States. These outbreaks demonstrate that cats may shed
Salmonella in their feces and that veterinary facilities may serve as a setting for transmission of Salmonella to other animals and humans.
Veterinary workers should wash their hands after handling pets, especially animal feces. Although outbreaks of these kinds have been previously
reported in large animal facilities (e.g., horse clinics), outbreaks associated with small animal facilities are rare.
Tularemia Oklahoma, 2000
Tularemia is an uncommon, but serious febrile illness.
PRESS CONTACT:
Mamadou Diallo, M.D., M.P.H.
CDC, Epidemiology Program Office
(404) 6394017 |
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Tularemia can be prevented by avoiding tick and fly bites and handling of sick or dead animals, especially rabbits. Additionally, special
precautions should be taken when working with the tularemia agent in the laboratory. The disease is treatable with commonly used antibiotics.
Early diagnosis and treatment is needed to avoid severe and sometimes fatal complications of infection. Tularemia is characterized by fever and
a wide range of other signs of inflammation; in its most common form it presents as an open sore of the skin and swollen and painful lymph
glands. Healthcare providers who see patients with fever of unknown cause should consider the possibility of tularemia, and ask about possible
infective exposures, such as handling of animal carcasses or recent tick or fly bites.
Outbreak of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Among Unvaccinated Residents in a Nursing Home New Jersey, April 2001
Providing pneumococcal vaccines to long-term care facility residents is important in the prevention of pneumococcal
illness.
PRESS CONTACT:
Laura Otterbourg
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
(609) 9847160
(Alternate: Chris Van Beneden, CDC, 404-639-2215) |
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Outbreaks of pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteremia, resulting in deaths, occur in long-term care facilities with low vaccine coverage.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines are considered safe and have been shown to be effective in preventing invasive disease and death among
persons 65 years and older. Regulations that mandate hospitals, adult day health care facilities, and long-term care facilities (LTCF),
including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, to offer and document pneumococcal vaccinations may improve vaccination coverage for
LTCF residents. Better documentation would facilitate the tracking of vaccination status of residents and provide medical history information to
other health-care facilities when a resident is hospitalized or transferred, or if an outbreak of pneumococcal illness occurred.
Adverse Events and Deaths Associated With Laboratory Errors at a Hospital Pennsylvania, 2001
Adverse Events and Deaths Associated With Laboratory Errors at a Hospital Pennsylvania, 2001
PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 4981251 |
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Over a 7-week period from June through July of this year, a hospital laboratory in Pennsylvania reported 2,146 incorrect results for a blood
test used in patients taking the anti-coagulant drug warfarin. Warfarin inhibits blood clotting and is prescribed for the management and
prevention of conditions such as stroke, clots in the legs, and heart attacks. Some physicians who received these reports increased their
patients' doses of warfarin, potentially leading to bleeding complications. Two deaths have been associated with the laboratory error. Efforts
are underway by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
and CDC to identify other patient morbidity and mortality associated with the error, its possible causes, and the steps needed to prevent it
from happening again.
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